Product Description

As one of several models for Gibson's 120th Anniversary celebration, the Les Paul Futura 2014 combines an unprecedented set of features with incredible value. Backed by legendary tone and launched into the 21st century by some of Gibson's most stunning innovations yet, this is a guitar primed to rock your world -- and do it in style.

The Les Paul Futura 2014 begins with a foundation of traditional tonewoods, then kicks it up a notch with the pairing of an overwound-PAF-style BurstBucker 3 humbucker in the bridge position and Gibson's P-90H Sidewinder humbucker in the neck, with both enhanced by push/pull coil-split switching and an onboard 15 dB boost. Add the astounding Min-ETune automated tuning system and a whole raft of 120th Anniversary features, and the result is a stunning performance package.

Body and Neck

Crafted in the image of the original Les Paul Standard, the Les Paul Futura 2014 is made from a solid mahogany back with modern weight relief for enhanced resonance and a lighter strapped-on feel, with a carved plain maple top (figured AA maple on the Brilliant Red and Pacific Blue models). Its glued-in maple neck sports a '60s Slim Taper profile, and a rosewood fingerboard incorporates 22 cryogenic treated frets for long life, plus traditional trapezoid inlays and a commemorative 120th Anniversary inlay at the 12th fret.

Pickups and Electronics

The guitar carries a unique pairing of a "hot-vintage" style BurstBucker 3 in the bridge position and a P-90H Sidewinder humbucker in the neck position. They're wired through the traditional complement of independent volume and tone controls and a three-way selector switch, but updated with coil-split switching and launched into the stratosphere with Gibson's onboard 15 dB boost.

Hardware

The Les Paul Futura 2014 is an unprecedented live performance machine thanks to its factory-installed Min-ETune tuning system, which automatically retunes your guitar on demand in seconds, or calls up any one of 12 factory or 6 user presets at a simple strum of the strings. A chrome Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece lock the strings down for optimum sustain, while enlarged strap buttons keep your guitar secure throughout the set. Black Max Grip speed knobs provide optimum on-the-fly control manipulation.

Case and Coverage

The Les Paul Futura 2014 comes protected in a black hardshell case, includes a truss-rod wrench and owner's manual, and is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty and Gibson's 24/7/365 Customer Service.

If you have additional warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer at 800-4GIBSON

zZounds Expert Review

The Futura is a modern update to the familiar Les Paul design. Its P-90 Sidewinder neck pickup let me dial in bell-like sounds with the tone knob dialed up to ten, but I also got a blankety but not covered-up sound when dialed all the way down. The bridge pickup produced the usual great Les Paul bite, which gave the guitar versatility between the two of them. I like Gibson's comfy and fast '60s neck profile feel and recommend it as a good fit for anyone that doesn't want a bulky one. Another cool bonus is the ultra transparent 15 dB push-pull boost that comes equipped on the tone knob which works well for solos or driving a tube amp a little harder.

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This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
"Min-ETune and the Guitar"

Overall:
I researched the Futura for 2 weeks by watching all the Youtube videos I could find. I actually played the 2014 LPM & SGM models. Originally, I thought I wanted the SG but ended up liking the feel of the Les Paul over the SG. I knew I wanted a model with the Min-ETune. I wasn't fully impressed with the pickups in the LPM model. So, because I wanted a bigger sound, I took a leap and bought the Futura without ever playing one.
It was a good gamble. I am impressed with the Futura. The pickup selections are fun and they all sound good. I really like having the options with the coil tap offerings. I bought the Brilliant Red and it looks better than I imagined it would. I just really like this guitar.
Just so you know; there are some YouTube videos that say you can wind the tuning keys manually. Nope. You don't want to do that. These people are wrong. You will take the chance of damaging the servos on the Min-ETune system. There is a short instruction manual you can get online that tells you how to use the Min-ETune. I highly recommend you read this quick manual before messing with the system. The unit has a bit of a learning curve, but once you understand it, it all makes sense and is easy to remember. If you don't read this short manual you could end up damaging your Min-ETune system.
My review of the Min-ETune is 10/10. I love it. To be able to quickly jump to different tunings is awesome, and it tunes perfectly. I read and play guitar tab, and as you know, not every song is in standard tuning. This device has spoiled me.
A tip when using the Min-ETune: Strum the strings one time directly over the rhythm pickup. Then do nothing more while the letters flash different colors. Eventually, the colors will stop flashing and you will be left with letters that are solid green and solid red. The solid green strings are finished. Strum the red strings one at a time until all are green. The system will then turn itself off. I have watched people on YouTube and in real life strum the strings more than once before the colors turn solid and the system fails. Or, they will strum more than one solid red string, instead of one at a time, and the system fails. Now that I know how to use the system, when I read complaints about it online, I can tell by their description that they are doing it wrong.
Another tip when using the Min-ETune: while you are holding the guitar and you look at the interface of the system (located on the back of the headstock), you might not notice the direction used to display the strings is backwards. For example, if I were to tell you my guitar tab is in standard tuning I would write it like so EADGBe. And you would know that the thickest string is E, the next thickest string is Aâ€¦ and the smallest string is e (or E). Well, while you are looking at the interface (on the back of the headstock), you might not notice that it is backwards! It is written eBGDAE. Because of this, you might get confused as to which string the system is referring you to, to strum! I was confused and thought the system was broken! I then remembered a guy in the music store said, â€˜he loved the Min-ETune but had to work his way around remembering the strings were written backwards!â€™
Seriously, the manual is real short. Just read it and test it out as you read the manual and I am sure you will like the Min-ETune.
Again, I really like this guitar. So many sounds, and the guitar feels good to play. I like it.

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"My first Gibson"

Overall:
I just got my Iverness Green Futura today. I unpacked it and checked the fit and finish, everything was perfect. The guitar plays great out of the box, but I will still take it to my local shop to fine tune the setup. This guitar sounds and plays great. After a few negative reviews I read I was worried but as soon as I strummed the first chord I was pleased. The E tune feature is very cool and worked perfectly!

Style of Music: I play a little of everything from classic rock and country to modern pop.

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close [x]BlemishedThis is typically a customer return. This inventory includes all parts, components, and manuals (hard copy or downloadable). It has been tested to manufacturer's specifications and is guaranteed to work perfectly, but it has a cosmetic blemish. It may be less attractive than Warehouse Resealed inventory, but it's priced even lower! Gibson does not offer a manufacturer's warranty on Blemished products. This inventory is a great value.

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

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